EDDIE IZZARD

SHOW REVIEW
BY TOM WALKER
This year’s show was the best
attended in history, with 2,804
delegates from 82 countries
SOCCEREX 2015
Tom Walker reports from the Soccerex Global Convention, where the future of FIFA,
artificial pitches, advances in player metrics and fan engagement were on the agenda
The Soccerex Global Convention – with child rights organisation Terre des
now in its 20th year – attracted a Hommes and charity Back In Football
record-breaking 2,804 delegates – showcased how football can be used as a
from 82 countries to the
tool for social development.
Manchester Central Convention Describing the addition of the new CSO
Complex in September. The key meeting area, Soccerex marketing director David
place for football professionals, the
Wright said: “We’re always looking to
three-day programme of seminars and highlight the social issues affecting football
keynote speeches was supported by a show and the CSO Zone allowed us to devote
floor packed with 163 exhibitors – ranging more time and space to such an important
from architects, designers and technology and diverse area within the industry.”
providers to marketeers and F&B suppliers.
In total, there were 45 conference Towards a new FIFA
sessions spread across three stages. The conference opened with an interview
The Studio was home to interviews and with HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein,
sessions involving the heavyweights of former FIFA executive committee
world football – such as FIFA presidential member and the sole challenger to
candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, MLS incumbent Sepp Blatter at this year’s FIFA
commissioner Don Garber
and Football Association
(FA) CEO Martin Glenn.
The second stage, called
The Academy, was a hub
of learning, insight and
creativity and hosted 20
individual workshops focusing
on finance, social media, law,
match day operations and
sponsorship. Finally, making
its debut, the conference’s
Corporate Social
Opportunity (CSO) Zone
Football Association CEO Martin Glenn speaking at Soccerex
– delivered in partnership
presidential election. Ali described the
world governing body – and its brand – as
being ‘extremely damaged’.
“We have to change the entire way
FIFA is run and the way that it conducts
itself,” Prince Ali said. “As much as people
love football, the feelings toward FIFA
are precisely the opposite and that is a
real shame. The whole football world is
suffering because of what is going on with
FIFA and it’s no longer a matter of simply
changing the leadership. The FIFA brand
is repairable, but we need to take a strong
stand and we need to start the action now.”
He added that he “wasn’t confident” that
UEFA president Michel Platini was the right
man to lead FIFA forward.
The topic of FIFA’s future loomed large
above networking discussions at
Soccerex, and most delegates
welcomed the news that
former International Olympic
Committee director general
François Carrard had been
appointed to lead a new FIFA
reform taskforce. Carrard will
chair a 12-member panel that will
present reform proposals to the
FIFA congress in February, the
date when disgraced FIFA
president Blatter will relinquish
his grip on the organisation he
has led since 1998.
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